My Great-Grandfather’s Shop Rent 1949 Receipt

Today, I am sharing a historical shop rent receipt paid by my great-grandfather, Khadga Narayan Pradhan. This rare document takes us back to 1949, when Sikkim was still under the rule of the Chogyal.

According to the receipt, the payment was made to the estate of Rai Saheb Rhenock Kaji Sanam Dadul, a member of the powerful hereditary nobility of Rhenock, in the eastern part of Sikkim. Khadga Narayan Pradhan had been a cardamom merchant and the tenant based in Rongli, which was on the way to the legendary Old Silk Route.

The receipt specifically mentions "Dukan Kiraya" (Shop Rent), where he managed his famous "Elaichi Khazana" (Cardamom Warehouse), with the date November 1, 1949. The amount my great-grandfather then paid was 7 Rupees and 8 Annas for the month of October.

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Proud to be a Sikkimese: Sikkim Travel, Culture & Local Heritage

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